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Government of Canada Introduces Legislation to Create a New RCMP Labour Relations Regime

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Government of Canada Introduces Legislation to Create a New RCMP Labour Relations Regime

March 9, 2016 – Ottawa – Treasury Board Secretariat

The Government of Canada today introduced legislation to create a new labour relations regime for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) members and reservists.

The legislation would address the Supreme Court of Canada decision on the Mounted Police Association of Ontario (MPAO) v. Attorney General of Canada case, which found key parts of the current RCMP labour relations regime to be unconstitutional.

This bill was drafted following extensive consultations with regular members of the RCMP and jurisdictions with RCMP Police Services Agreements.

The Government of Canada will continue to work with Parliament in an open and engaging manner throughout the legislative process.

Quotes

"Today, the Government of Canada is addressing an important decision of the Supreme Court of Canada by introducing a bill that, if passed, will provide RCMP members and reservists with a right to make choices about representation in labour relations matters. It will do so in a manner that reflects the operational environment of police officers."

– Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"The Government of Canada takes the responsibility to protect the safety and security of Canadians very seriously, and is committed to supporting the dedicated and proud members of Canada’s national police service. This bill will promote the constitutional right of RCMP members and reservists to engage in meaningful collective bargaining."

– Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board

Quick facts

The legislation includes the following elements:

the freedom for RCMP members and reservists to choose whether to be represented by a bargaining agent;

independent, binding arbitration as the dispute resolution process for bargaining impasses, with no right to strike;

a single, national-in-scope bargaining unit for RCMP members appointed to a rank and reservists;

the requirement that the RCMP bargaining agent have as its primary mandate the representation of RCMP members;

the exclusion of officers from representation; and

the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board as the administrative tribunal for matters related to collective bargaining for the RCMP bargaining unit, as well as for grievances related to a collective agreement.

In January, the Supreme Court of Canada granted the Government of Canada an extension until May 17, 2016, to address the Mounted Police Association of Ontario (MPAO) v. Attorney General of Canada decision.

RCMP members are the only police officers in Canada not having the right to engage in collective bargaining.